The Ridiculous Stats That Prove Luis Suárez Is a Barcelona Legend

The flash of teeth, a flurry of quick kisses on his wrist and hand as he raises three fingers before an obligatory hop of joy. Luis Suárez's goal celebration has become a common sight during his six years at Barcelona.

But no longer.

The divisive Uruguayan was the latest experienced player to suffer the cull Barcelona are in the midst of this summer, joining La Liga rivals Atlético Madrid for a minimal fee.

As Suárez bid an emotional farewell he reflected on his time with Barça and aptly described himself as 'part of the history of the club'. Goals, assists, niggling fouls, sharp-tongued exchanges with referees and a mountain of trophies have littered an unforgettable half-decade in Spain for a player who will forever have a place within the fabric of this footballing institution.

1. Fastest Barcelona Player to Score 100 La Liga Goals

The rapidity with which Suárez scored 100 La Liga goals is made all the more impressive by his slow start. Barça's now former number nine didn't open his league account until his eighth outing, eventually bundling one in from five yards out against Córdoba.

Suárez's scoring rate soared after his first as he reached the triple digit mark in his 114th La Liga match.

This is one of the few club records in which he actually surpasses Lionel Messi. The legendary Argentine needed 154 matches to crack the 100 mark (incidentally, Messi has netted 344 in his next 331 La Liga games).

2. Most El Clásico Goals Since Debut

The fixture generator for the 2014/15 season was particularly kind to Barcelona, and those selling the division's broadcasting rights, when it conveniently ensured Suárez's debut for the club would fall upon the first Clásico of the season.

In a 3-1 defeat, Suárez assisted Neymar four minutes into his maiden Barcelona match. However, since his first appearance against Real Madrid, Suárez has - comfortably - scored more Clásico goals than any other player.

Across all competitions, the Uruguayan marksman found Real Madrid's net 11 times in 15 appearances. In 2018, he also became the first Barcelona player not named Messi to score a hat-trick in the fixture since Romário in 1994.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - the next most prolific players since 2014 - can only boast five goals each.

In fact, Suárez - despite having played seven games fewer - has scored as many goals in La Liga Clásicos (nine) as Ronaldo managed during his entire career in the Spanish capital.

3. Broke Up the Messi-Ronaldo Scoring Duopoly

It's no exaggeration to say that Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the past decade of European club football like no two other players ever before.

In the ten seasons between 2009 and 2019, the pair have finished as Europe's top scorer nine times - Suárez was the only player to break up this duopoly during their peak (twice - kind of).

In his final season at Liverpool, Suárez shared the award with Ronaldo but claimed the prize outright in 2015/16.

That term, the Barcelona frontman netted a ridiculous 40 goals in La Liga alone (59 in all competitions). He not only broke Messi and Ronaldo's stranglehold on the European Golden Shoe but is also the only other player to finish as top scorer in the Spanish top flight since 2010.

4. Consistent Double Threat

In that standout goalscoring season of 2015/16, 'El Pistolero' also showed he can provide his teammates with plenty of ammunition, topping the charts with a league-high 16 assists, laying on a total of 22 across all competitions.

However, that was no fluke, Suárez displayed consistent excellency by hitting double figures for goals and assists in each of his six seasons in Catalonia.

5. Lionel Messi Partnership

Suárez has laid on no fewer than 47 goals for Messi across all competitions during his time at the club, a tally higher than any other player in the Argentine's career according to Opta.

The next-door neighbours are also best friends off the pitch. While at Barcelona together, their kids went to the same school, their wives were business partners and when Suárez netted a hat-trick against Real Madrid in 2018, the injured Messi was babysitting his children in the stands.